Underrated Player of the Year: 2010

In this series, I look at one player per year from 1991-the present who came out of nowhere or had a great year that no one really noticed or expected.

In 2010 the Red Sox were hit with a massive wave of injuries.  Included in those injuries were starting outfielders Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury, as well as backup Jeremy Hermida.  So Boston was in a pinch for outfielders, which lead to them turning to Josh Reddick, Ryan Kalish, Daniel Nava, Bill Hall, and Darnell McDonald.  

McDonald immediately stabilized the outfield, playing 69 games in center field and an additional 30 games at each of the other two spots.  He hit reasonably well for a line of .270/.336/.429 with nine home runs, 18 doubles, three triples, nine stolen bases, and 34 RBIs.  It was the first time in his career that McDonald had been given the opportunity to play close to full-time and he took full advantage of it.

Ultimately, it turned out that McDonald was just a stopgap.  He would be back in a part-time role in 2011 and 2012 and then later released.  He ended up with the Yankees where he played just four games, yet somehow got a card made.   Stupid Yankees.

Boxscore: May 7, 2012: Red Sox 11 Royals 5

For my birthday this year, my wife bought tickets to the Red Sox visiting the Royals on May 7.  This was the first game in six years that I been to, luckily it was another big offensive game for the Red Sox.

Felix Doubront took the mound for Boston on this night.  It was one of his big games after a Red Sox loss.  Doubront pitched 6.1 innings scattering seven hits.  He did give up five runs, only three of which were earned as Will Middlebrooks made an error in the game.  He struck out two and walked three.  This was not one of his better games, but it was enough.  Vicente Padilla pitched the rest of the game for a save.  His eephus pitch was used a few times that night.

The offensive hero of the night was Middlebrooks who connected for a three run home run in the first to right field and then a two run home run in the eighth to left.  He also doubled, going 3 for 5 on the night.  Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run and David Ortiz hit a solo shot as well.  Ortiz's was deep to center field.

Every Red Sox starter had at least one hit.  Pedroia and Cody Ross doubled, everyone else contributed at least a single.  Mike Aviles, Darnell McDonald, and Kelly Shoppach each had one hit.  Adrian Gonzalez and Marlon Byrd had two, with Gonzalez driving in a run.  Aviles and Pedroia each stole a base.  Nick Punto made it into the game at the end as a defensive replacement.

There was not a lot to say about the Royals offense.  Mike Moustakas doubled, but all of their other hits were singles.